In a shocking act of environmental vandalism, a section of the famed Molai Forest in Assam's Jorhat district was deliberately set on fire. The forest, a sprawling 1,360-acre woodland, is the life's work of Padma Shri awardee Jadav 'Molai' Payeng, who single-handedly planted and nurtured it over decades.
The Deliberate Attack on a Natural Treasure
The incident occurred on the evening of April 21, 2025. According to reports, unidentified miscreants entered the forest area near the Kokilamukh region and ignited a fire. The flames quickly spread, threatening the dense ecosystem before local authorities and forest officials could intervene. The fire brigade from Jorhat rushed to the spot and managed to douse the blaze, preventing a larger catastrophe.
Jadav Payeng, deeply distressed by the event, confirmed the deliberate nature of the act. He stated that such incidents of arson are not uncommon in the area and often stem from conflicts over land or resources. The Molai Forest, located primarily on a sandbar of the Brahmaputra River, is home to a rich biodiversity including tigers, rhinoceroses, deer, rabbits, monkeys, and a vast variety of birds and insects.
A Legacy Built Tree by Tree
The story of Molai Forest is one of unparalleled personal dedication. Jadav Payeng began planting trees in 1979 on a barren sandbar, responding to the plight of snakes dying in the heat without tree cover. What started as a solitary mission transformed over 40 years into a dense, self-sustaining forest larger than New York's Central Park. His extraordinary effort earned him the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2015, and international acclaim as the 'Forest Man of India'.
The forest now stands as a powerful testament to ecological restoration and has become a critical habitat and carbon sink. This makes the act of arson not just an attack on property, but an assault on a nationally significant environmental asset and a symbol of individual perseverance.
Aftermath and Calls for Protection
While the full extent of the damage is being assessed, the incident has raised serious concerns about the security of such vulnerable ecological zones. Payeng has previously voiced worries about encroachments and threats from those interested in clearing the forest for other uses. This fire underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection and monitoring of the forest he created.
Local authorities are investigating the matter. The act is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and human pressures. It highlights the vulnerability of even the most celebrated environmental projects to malicious acts and calls for a stronger institutional framework to safeguard such natural treasures for future generations.
The burning of Molai Forest is a loss for Assam, India, and the global environmental community. It reinforces the message that the fight to protect our restored ecosystems is as crucial as the effort to create them.
